Valkyries leave Toppers behind

Sacred Heart’s back was against the wall, so what did it do? It stayed poised, turned up the pressure and kept shooting.

The host Valkyries found themselves trailing midway through the third period before a tenacious press and some deadly outside shooting by Kiki Samsel and Grace Berger propelled them to a 69-39 win over Presentation Monday night in the first round of the Seventh Region Tournament.

SHA coach Donna Moir knew the Toppers (15-16) would not go away without a fight, esp